--- title: "Thomas Bradley Cates | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-bradley-cates" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Thomas Bradley Cates Texas County Court at Law No. 2 · Statutory County Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas County Court at Law No. 2 - State: Texas - Role: Statutory County Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### civil remote appearances Scope: statewide In civil district and county court proceedings, the court may permit or require electronic participation after appropriate notice; compelled electronic participation for oral-testimony proceedings requires good cause or party agreement, and a jury trial requires party agreement. Evidence excerpt: Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2). [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### civil recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Civil district and county trial courts may permit courtroom recording or broadcasting only under Supreme Court guidelines, with the required party and witness consent, or for ceremonial proceedings. Evidence excerpt: A trial court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of proceedings in the courtroom only in the following circumstances: [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-bradley-cates", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-bradley-cates", "name": "Thomas Bradley Cates | KnowJudges", "description": "Thomas Bradley Cates, Texas County Court at Law No. 2. 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Bradley Cates, Attorney at Law (1991) - Worked in private practice with Bates, Cates & Cates (1983–1991) - held the role of Assistant Criminal District Attorney for McLennan County (1983) - Official site: McLennan County – About Judge Cates ### Education - Baylor University School of Law — J.D. (1980) - B.B.A. – Baylor University, 1977 ### Additional information - Licensed by the Texas Supreme Court, May 1981 - Judge Cates presides over cases in McLennan County Court at Law No. 2, a statutory county court handling civil, criminal, and family matters in the county. - His chambers are located in Waco, TX, and he can be reached at (254) 757‐5030. - He also served on the Judicial Section Board of the State Bar of Texas and was a faculty member at the Texas Center for the Judiciary. - Judge Cates is married to Linda Bates Cates, has two children and three grandchildren. - He is active in music (Redemption Brass, Waco Community Band, church orchestra), enjoys woodworking, reading, and outdoor activities. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-119ce7e69a3752f1da3cfce0) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-a5f587f769df9f3231ef4f9a) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.